DCF 202.07(1)
(1)
Except as provided in sub.
(2), a certification agency shall investigate a complaint about a certified child care operator within 10 working days after receiving the complaint.
DCF 202.07(2)
(2) No later than the next day after a certification agency receives a complaint or self-report that suggests imminent danger may exist to the health, safety, and welfare of children in care, the certification agency shall respond to a complaint or self-reported incident.
DCF 202.07 History
History: Cr.
Register, December, 1991, No. 432, eff. 1-1-92; emerg. r. and recr. eff. 7-1-96; r. and recr.
Register, February, 1997, No. 494, eff. 3-1-97; renum. from HFS 55.605,
Register, July, 1999, No. 523, eff. 8-1-99;
CR 07-071: am.
Register May 2008 No. 629, eff. 6-1-08;
2015 Wis. Act 132: am.
Register February 2016 No. 722, eff. 3-1-16;
EmR1918: emerg. r. and recr., eff. 1-30-19;
CR 19-089: r. and recr.
Register March 2020 No. 771, eff. 4-1-20.
DCF 202.08
DCF 202.08 Standards for family child care and in-home child care. DCF 202.08(1)(a)1.
1. A provider shall be physically, mentally, and emotionally able to provide responsible child care and shall be at least 18 years of age.
DCF 202.08(1)(a)2.
2. Each child care operator shall demonstrate that the operator is free from tuberculosis prior to initial certification. Each provider shall demonstrate that he or she is free from tuberculosis prior to the date the provider begins working with children in care. The certification agency may accept the results of a test administered up to 12 months before the certification date or the date the person began to work with children in care.
DCF 202.08(1)(b)1.1. Training in the most current medically accepted methods for reducing the risk of sudden infant death syndrome is required as follows:
DCF 202.08(1)(b)1.b.
b. Prior to beginning to work with children in care for each provider, including volunteers, substitutes, and emergency back-up providers, or any other person who provides care and supervision for children under one year of age.
DCF 202.08(1)(b)2.
2. Department-approved training on shaken baby syndrome, abusive head trauma, and appropriate ways to manage crying, fussing, or distraught children is required, as follows:
DCF 202.08(1)(b)2.b.
b. Prior to beginning to work with children in care for each provider, including volunteers, substitutes, and emergency back-up providers, or any other person who provides care and supervision for children under 5 years of age.
DCF 202.08 Note
Note: A person who completed a non-credit, department-approved course called either Introduction to the Child Care Profession or the Fundamentals of Infant and Toddler Care after July 1, 2005 will have met the SBS department-approved training requirement. The department-approved SBS course is also included in the course called Health, Safety and Nutrition offered by a Wisconsin technical college taken after July 1, 2005.
DCF 202.08(1)(b)3.
3. Each certified child care operator and each provider shall comply with s.
48.651 (1d) (b), Stats., and successfully complete all of the following training by the applicable date specified in subd.
4.:
DCF 202.08(1)(b)3.a.
a. At least 2 credits in early childhood education or a department-approved non-credit course in caring for children.
DCF 202.08(1)(b)3.b.
b. A department-approved non-credit course in operating a child care business or a course for credit in business or program administration.
DCF 202.08(1)(b)3.c.
c. Training in child abuse and neglect laws and identifying, documenting, and reporting child abuse and neglect.
DCF 202.08 Note
Note: A person who completed a non-credit, department-approved course called the Introduction to the Child Care Profession will have met the child abuse and neglect training requirement.
DCF 202.08(1)(b)3.d.
d. Obtain and recertify as necessary to maintain current certification in infant and child cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). The CPR training must result in a certificate of completion. If the certificate of completion does not have a date specifying the length of time for which it is valid, the CPR training must be renewed every year. Time spent renewing cardiopulmonary resuscitation may be counted towards the required continuing education hours under subd.
5. DCF 202.08(1)(b)4.a.a. A regular child care operator shall complete department-approved preservice training under subd.
3. prior to the certification agency granting regular certification.
DCF 202.08(1)(b)4.b.
b. A provisional certified child care operator shall complete department-approved preservice training under subd.
3. within 3 months after provisional certification.
DCF 202.08(1)(b)4.c.
c. A provider working in a regular or provisional certified child care program shall successfully complete department-approved preservice training under subd.
3. by 3 months after work commencing.
DCF 202.08(1)(b)4.d.
d. A substitute shall complete the training specified in subd.
1. and
2. but need not meet requirements under subd.
3. until the substitute has worked for 240 cumulative hours.
DCF 202.08(1)(b)5.
5. After completion of preservice training under subd.
3., a child care provider shall receive and document receiving at least 5 hours of qualifying continuing education annually. Continuing education qualifies under this subdivision if it covers any of the following:
DCF 202.08(1)(b)5.b.
b. Prevention of sudden infant death syndrome and use of safe sleeping practices.
DCF 202.08(1)(b)5.d.
d. Prevention of and response to emergencies due to allergic reactions to food or other allergens.
DCF 202.08(1)(b)5.e.
e. Building and physical premises safety, including identification of and protection from electrical hazards, bodies of water, vehicular traffic, and other hazards that can cause bodily injury.
DCF 202.08(1)(b)5.g.
g. Emergency preparedness and response planning for emergencies resulting from natural disaster or human-caused events.
DCF 202.08(1)(b)5.h.
h. Handling and storage of hazardous materials and the appropriate disposal of biocontaminants. In this subd.
5. h., “biocontaminants” includes blood, body fluids, or excretions that may spread infectious disease.
DCF 202.08(1)(b)5.n.
n. Other topics that promote child development or protect children's health and safety.
DCF 202.08(1)(b)6.
6. Continuing education hours completed in excess of the 5 hour requirement in subd.
5. may be used to meet the continuing education requirement for the following year.
DCF 202.08(1m)
(1m)
General conditions of approval and operational requirements. DCF 202.08(1m)(a)1.1. A certified child care operator shall be a responsible, mature individual who is fit and qualified. In determining whether an applicant is fit and qualified, the certification agency shall consider qualifications under sub.
(1) and any information listed under s.
DCF 202.02 (7m) by the applicant, operator, household member, or other individual directly or indirectly participating in the operation of the certified child care.
DCF 202.08(1m)(a)2.
2. Prior to receiving or continuing certification, an applicant or operator shall complete all application forms truthfully and accurately and pay all fees that are due to the certification agency or to the department.
DCF 202.08(1m)(a)3.
3. A certified child care operator shall ensure that any action, by commission or omission, or any condition or occurrence relating to the operation or maintenance of the child care premises does not adversely affect the health, safety, or welfare of any child in care.
DCF 202.08(1m)(a)4.
4. A certified child care operator shall comply with all laws governing the certified child care program and its operation, including s.
48.686, Stats., and ch.
DCF 13 and ensure that all employees and volunteers comply with these laws.
DCF 202.08(1m)(a)5.
5. A certified child care operator shall comply with all requirements in this chapter and ch.
DCF 13 and with any conditions or restrictions placed on the certification.
DCF 202.08(1m)(a)6.
6. A certified child care operator shall include in its personnel or operating policies a provision that requires a provider to notify the child care operator as soon as possible, but no later than the child care program's next working day, of the reporting requirements under par.
(b) 5. to
7. DCF 202.08(1m)(a)7.
7. A certified child care operator shall ensure all information provided to the certification agency and the department is current and accurate.
DCF 202.08(1m)(a)8.
8. A certified child care operator shall maintain a current written record on each child in care, including the provider's own children under 7 years of age, and make the record available to a child care certification worker upon request.
DCF 202.08(1m)(a)9.
9. A certified child care operator shall permit a child care certification worker to have unrestricted access to the premises, including access to children served, child records, and any other materials related to compliance under this chapter.
DCF 202.08(1m)(a)10.
10. A certified child care operator shall comply with all of the following conditions of the operator's certification:
DCF 202.08(1m)(a)10.b.
b. The age of the children in care may not be younger or older than the age range specified.
DCF 202.08(1m)(a)10.c.
c. The hours, days and months of operation may not exceed those specified. Care provided in excess of the specified hours is unregulated.
DCF 202.08(1m)(a)10.d.
d. The certification is non-transferrable, is granted only to the designated operator, and is limited to the stated location.
DCF 202.08(1m)(b)
(b)
Reports. A certified child care operator shall report all of the following to the certification agency as soon as possible, but no later than the certification agency's next working day:
DCF 202.08(1m)(b)1.
1. An accident or incident that occurs while a child is in care of a provider resulting in an injury requiring professional medical evaluation.
DCF 202.08(1m)(b)3.
3. Any damage to the premises that may affect compliance with this chapter, or any incident at the premises that results in the loss of utility service.
DCF 202.08(1m)(b)4.
4. Construction or remodeling of the premises that has the potential to affect an area accessible to children or have an effect on health and safety of children in care.
DCF 202.08(1m)(b)5.
5. Known convictions, pending charges, or other offenses of the child care operator, household member, or other person subject to the child care background check.
DCF 202.08(1m)(b)6.a.
a. A threat to cause physical or serious emotional harm to any individual, including a child in care, by the operator, a household member, or other person subject to the child care background check.
DCF 202.08(1m)(b)6.b.
b. A moving violation by a driver that transports children in care, regardless of whether the children are present at the time of the violation.
DCF 202.08(1m)(b)7.
7. Suspected abuse or neglect of a child by a provider, volunteer, or household member that was reported under sub.
(14), including any incident that results in a child being forcefully shaken or thrown against a hard or soft surface during the child's hours of attendance.
DCF 202.08(1m)(b)12.
12. The operator's tax identification number changes or the legal name associated with the tax identification number changes.
DCF 202.08(1m)(c)
(c)
New household member. A certified family child care operator shall submit a completed background check request form to the department or certification agency for each potential household member 10 years of age or older prior to the date on which the person becomes a household member.
DCF 202.08(1m)(d)
(d)
Approval for changes. An operator shall submit a request to the certification agency if the operator wishes to change any of the following:
DCF 202.08(1m)(e)1.1. If requested by the certification agency, an operator shall submit a plan of correction for cited violations of this chapter, ch.
DCF 13, or s.
48.686, Stats., to the certification agency by the date the agency specifies.
DCF 202.08(1m)(e)2.
2. The operator shall submit a revised plan of correction to the agency if the initial plan is not accepted by the agency.
DCF 202.08(1m)(f)
(f)
Approval required before working in program. A provider, substitute, employee, or volunteer for a certified child care operator shall be approved by the certification agency before the person begins working in the certified child care program. The certification agency may approve the provider, substitute, employee, or volunteer if the agency has verification that the individual has met the standards under sub.
(1) (a) and
(b) and has been determined eligible by the department under s.
48.686 (4p), Stats., and s.
DCF 13.06.
DCF 202.08(2)
(2) Certified family child care operator's home. A certified family child care operator's home and play area shall meet all of the following requirements:
